Marvel: A Lazy-Ass Superman

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The trip to the police station was surprisingly courteous.

With George Stacy personally leading the escort, Henry wasn’t even handcuffed.

In truth, after hearing Katharine Hepburn’s testimony, it was already apparent that Henry Brown was innocent. However, procedures were procedures, and the proper process still had to be followed.

After all, Henry’s arrest warrant had been requested by a federal prosecutor and issued by a court. Whether he could be released wasn’t something the police could decide on a whim.

What happened next, however, was something even a veteran officer like George Stacy could say he’d only seen once in his entire career.

Before Henry had even been brought back to the station, the prosecutor was already waiting.

Henry hadn’t yet been informed of his rights, nor had any formal statement been taken, but the prosecutor looked ready to push directly into the initial appearance process and petition a judge for pretrial detention.

Yet before the prosecutor could finish even a single coherent sentence in the interrogation room, a lawyer burst in and demanded that Henry be released into his custody.

The newcomer was Oscorp’s ace attorney.

His win rate was ninety-nine percent, and the resources at his disposal were effectively limitless. Seeing him appear generally meant that Oscorp was prepared to win a lawsuit at any cost.

As for why his record wasn’t a perfect one hundred percent?

Because the remaining one percent usually involved cases ending when either the plaintiff or defendant died unexpectedly.

Depending on which side Oscorp happened to be backing.

That fearsome reputation alone was enough to make the prosecutor immediately lose his nerve.

Before the attorney could even finish taking charge of Henry’s release, a second lawyer arrived, also claiming to represent Henry Brown.

This one had been hired by Katharine Hepburn.

He enjoyed an excellent reputation in the field of public-interest litigation and was known, at the very least, as someone capable of distinguishing right from wrong.

Unfortunately, when two lawyers of that caliber met face-to-face, it wasn’t exactly a sporting event where friendship came before competition.

One was a ruthless attorney willing to use any means necessary to win.

The other believed in justice and fairness, dedicating himself to speaking for the innocent.

Neither held much respect for the other, and neither was inclined to exchange pleasantries.

Just as the verbal battle between them seemed ready to escalate further, a third lawyer arrived—also claiming to represent Henry Brown.

This one came from Stark Industries’ legal advisory team.

A former federal prosecutor and a respected figure within New York’s legal community, the elderly attorney silenced the two younger men the moment he entered.

It wasn’t because the American legal profession placed overwhelming importance on seniority.

Rather, this gentleman had once served as a federal prosecutor and maintained excellent relationships with many judges. He even had friends on the Supreme Court. His network within the legal world ran extraordinarily deep.

His ties to Stark Industries stretched back to the days of Howard Stark himself.

One could say he was Stark Industries’ heirloom blade—only brought out for matters of true importance.

At this point, the young federal prosecutor didn’t dare utter another word.

No legal arguments were necessary.

Being forced into a one-against-three battle, he’d leave with a bruised face no matter what happened—and the kind where he wouldn’t even dare fight back.

In the end, it was the senior attorney from Stark Industries who proposed a solution.

Oscorp’s lawyer would handle the release procedures. As for the other two, as long as their client wasn’t subjected to improper treatment and was allowed to leave the station unharmed, their mission would be accomplished.

The young lawyer hired by Katharine Hepburn had no objections.

His issue was less with the arrangement and more with certain questions of personal ethics concerning Oscorp’s representative.

The old lawyer had made that suggestion because, before entering the station, he’d noticed an extremely expensive luxury car parked outside.

And inside sat a very particular individual.

Someone who could serve as legal counsel for Stark Industries naturally possessed broad experience. Having spent decades moving in the circles of top-tier figures since Howard Stark’s era, he was confident he hadn’t mistaken the man’s identity.

Thus, this legal showdown—one that could be described as immortals battling immortals—came to a swift conclusion.

The overeager federal prosecutor was practically one step away from standing at attention by the door and saluting Henry Brown as he left.

Before departing, the elderly lawyer merely nodded to Oscorp’s attorney.

”Please give Mr. Osborn my regards.”

Then he left.

The second lawyer did much the same. Once the paperwork was complete and it was certain Henry was free to go, he also departed.

Only the attorney handling the release procedures remained.

Politely, he said,

”Mr. Brown, please follow me.”

---

Although Henry had no idea what Oscorp was really after, he wasn’t particularly worried. With police surveillance cameras everywhere, it wasn’t as though the man could set some obvious trap for him.

So Henry followed.

When he climbed into the back seat of a luxury sedan in the station parking lot, Norman Osborn was already waiting inside.

The business magnate spoke immediately.

”Perhaps I should have been more patient earlier. Then I might have acquired what you possess at a much lower cost.”

Henry understood exactly what he meant.

Smiling, he replied,

”If that had happened, pharmaceutical technology around the world would have advanced by leaps and bounds.”

”Oh? You don’t think I’m capable of keeping it all for myself?”

”I believe anyone who got their hands on it would be reluctant to let go. In that case, Mr. Osborn’s ’lower cost’ would become something of a joke.”

”So if you’d stayed inside, you would have chosen to yield quickly?”

Henry laughed.

”Haha, Mr. Osborn, you’re joking. A small person like me—if I didn’t choose to yield, what other path would I have? So yes, something like that would probably happen.

”Once I cease to have value, nobody will bother targeting me anymore. That’s how it works, isn’t it? After all, trying to kill me for no reason carries a considerable cost.”

Norman Osborn didn’t bother arguing over the subtle implication.

Instead, he returned to an earlier topic.

”A ten-million-dollar annual salary. Housing and transportation included. If you have additional demands, name them. Even a particular movie star wouldn’t be difficult to arrange.

”Because I believe you possess more things I want. And even if I’m mistaken, your brilliant mind should still be capable of creating tremendous value. I have no shortage of highly valuable projects waiting for breakthroughs.”

Henry sidestepped the offer with a smile.

”You’re making me nervous, sir.

”If you’ve looked into my background, then you should know I’m an orphan with no inheritance to rely upon.

”The only thing I can count on is this brain of mine, which I like to think is a little clever.

”But without the spark of inspiration Edison talked about, I can’t produce anything.

”So unless you’re willing to pay ten million a year while accepting the possibility that I achieve absolutely nothing, I think it would save us both the trouble of meeting in court someday.”

Henry’s description of himself largely matched the information Norman had obtained through various connections.

If Henry had brought any inheritance with him to Earth, it had probably been looted by the former Red Empire long ago.

Moreover, he had grown up inside a research facility from infancy and had never received a normal education. Norman therefore found it difficult to believe that Henry’s achievements stemmed from some innate extraterrestrial knowledge.

Another major reason was that all of Henry’s inventions remained within the realm of scientific concepts that could reasonably be derived from existing Earth knowledge.

He hadn’t suddenly introduced an entirely new scientific framework out of nowhere.

The most reasonable explanation was that this alien simply possessed an extraordinarily intelligent brain capable of excelling across multiple disciplines.

Unfortunately, previous attempts by others to force Henry’s cooperation had not ended well.

Norman Osborn had no intention of repeating those mistakes and turning a genius like Henry into an enemy.

...Though if killing him were a practical option, Norman might very well have considered it seriously.

Unfortunately, Henry’s apparent invulnerability to bullets and blades made the idea seem laughable from the outset.

In the end, Norman said,

”My offer will remain open indefinitely. If you ever wish to contact me, simply call Oscorp.”

He glanced at Henry and added,

”Would you like me to have someone drive you home?”

That was clearly a polite way of saying the meeting was over.

Henry smiled and declined.

”No need. You’re a busy man, Mr. Osborn. I’ll just grab a taxi myself.

”As for your help today, I’ll remember this favor.”

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